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How to choose a lightweight Bivy
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › How to choose a lightweight Bivy
- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 9 months ago by Matthew / BPL.
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Jun 30, 2017 at 4:43 pm #3476485
I have recently bought my Dechutes Tarp from SMD and am looking at possible bivy parings. Some of my criteria include that it is big enough for side sleepers, fully enclosed bug protection, good breathibility and water resistance. I am heading out on the Colorado Trail this August and want a versatile setup, so that way I have options when the weather turns or the bugs decide to come out. Ideally would just use the bivy as a groundsheet when bugs aren’t bad or it’s warmer out and use it when the opposite occurs. I am not looking for something to break the bank, so my budget would range from $100 to about $300 max.
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:01 pm #3476489I haven’t been thrilled with how my MLD Bug Bivy works in my Deschutes. It needs to be pulled upwards at an angle that is not possible in the Deschutes. I like how my MLD Superlight works much better. My son’s Borah is very similar to the Superlight at about half the price… I’d recommend the Borah.
You might consider adding a guyout point above your head in the Deschutes to pull the mesh up.
Jun 30, 2017 at 5:05 pm #3476492What do you suggest as far as hardware to make such a guyout. I have seen some with Zpacks where is just tapped on the Cuben itself so no need for adding stitches.
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:12 pm #3476502If you have a Cuben Deschutes then use a stick-on ZPacks loop. If it’s silnylon I think you have to sew it on. I haven’t gotten around to doing this myself but I’d just copy the materials used for the exterior guyout point and then seal it afterwords with silicone or silnet. Honestly the facenet is not very annoying on the MLD/Borah bivy so I have a low level of motivation to complete this task. The MLD Bug Bivy flops right on my face in a way that annoys me. YMMV.
Jun 30, 2017 at 6:15 pm #3476504Another option is to just use an SMD bugnet. It’s only a couple ounces more and fits the Deschutes really nicely. And you get the modularity where you can sleep without the tarp on nice nights if you are into that.
Jun 30, 2017 at 7:14 pm #3476513I have paired my Deschutes with the MLD solo inner. I liked it better than the SMD because of its better bathtub floor design using struts. But it weighs more and needs it’s own 4 stakes.
Jun 30, 2017 at 9:29 pm #3476524I recently tried the Ti Goat Bivy and now have a Borah Gear Bug Bivy. Placement of the loop at both ends seems to really matter. The Ti bivy’s loop was at the zipper, whereas the BG one is closer to the end. I like the ability to get a taut pitch with the bivy, and the BG bivy’s tab/loop placement is more practical. Mine is the regular/wide version, and I move in my sleep. I found that I still had plenty of space to maneuver, so if you go the bivy route, I do recommend getting a wide version, it’s a very nominal weight add and definitely worth it, IMO.
Jul 2, 2017 at 10:53 pm #3476737I’m thinking of going the route of the SMD inner because I won’t have enough time to get the Borah Bivy for  my hike in August. What are your thoughts on using a sea to summit nano net and just bring along some tyvek or polycro as a groundsheet ?
Jul 3, 2017 at 12:30 am #3476745It sounds fussy to me. Too many parts.
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